Grout surfaces contain numerous porous holes in which dirt and grime can easily collect. This oftentimes leads to discoloration. Usually this is because your tiling wasn’t properly sealed, in which case even mopping your floor will cause it to become discolored. In this case, whenever you mop your floor you will simply be moving the dirt from one place to another, thus making your floor look even more dingy.
How Grout Gets Dirty
There are a lot of different ways in which grout gets dirty. In your bathroom it is usually caused by mold or mildew. In your kitchen it is a combination of food stains, traffic, dirt and mildew.
General Grout Cleaning Tips
Whenever you are ready to clean your grout there are some tips that you should keep in mind, including:
- Begin by cleaning your grout with water and allowing it to dry. This will remove any loose debris that is on the surface.
- Never use anything except for oxygen bleach on your grout or it will become discolored.
- Whenever you are scrubbing your grout, make sure to do so with a stiff brush. Your old toothbrush will be too soft while metal bristles will wear away the grout.
- Make sure that you are working in a room that is well ventilated and that you wear gloves and protective eyewear.
- Always begin by testing your grout cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure that it won’t damage your grout.
- Tile And Grout Cleaners
To make your own tile and grout cleaner that you can safely use on a frequent basis you will want to combine ½ cup of baking soda, 1/3 cup of ammonia, ¼ cup of white vinegar and seven cups of water in a spray bottle. Make sure that you shake it well in order to mix it together. Now just spray it on your tile and grout then wipe it off with a damp sponge or cloth.
Grout Cleaners For Mold And Mildew
Whenever you need to clean your grout because it is stained with either mold or mildew you will want to use a solution that is composed of one part oxygen bleach to five parts water. You will need to then scrub the area, using a circular motion, with a bristle brush. After allowing it to sit for five minutes, rinse the area off thoroughly.
Cleaning Grout Haze Off Of Ceramic Or Porcelain Tile
The grout that is used between tiles is cement. To clean this type of grout you are going to need to purchase a sulfamic-acid cleaner, which is also known as a grout haze remover. This will break up the haze and allow you to simply wash it away. Just make sure that you closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If this doesn’t work, you will need to use a pumice stone with a very light touch and lots of water. You will need to carefully follow the instructions on the pumice stone so that you don’t scratch your ceramic or porcelain.
Cleaning Dirty Grout
In the past the only way to clean grout was with bleach. While this will lighten your grout stains, it will only have a temporary effect as it only cleans the surface. Today we know that the best way to clean dirty grout is actually by using a steam extraction process. Herein you will use a combination of hot steam, detergent, water pressure and vacuum extraction. Nevertheless you will be able to dislodge any dirt that is packed into the grout’s tiny holes.
Conclusion
You can also use generic household cleaners on tile grout as long as they don’t contain bleach. Make sure that you always follow the directions on any product that you use and then rinse your grout well once you are done.
